MICHAEL HARRISON, THE 7TH DISTRICT COMMANDER. WDSU REPORTER LATONYA NORTON JOINS US LIVE FROM POLICE HEADQUARTERS WITH MORE ON THE NEW INTERIM CHIEF. LATONYA? SCOTT, THE NEW LEADER IS NO STRANGER TO THE NOPD... AND TODAY'S CHANGING OF THE GUARD TOOK PLACE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF SERPAS' RESIGNATION. " nat of swearing in) " THE SUDDEN SWEARING-IN HAPPENED AT CITY HALL JUST MOMENTS AFTER NOPD SUPERINTENDENT RONAL SERPAS ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION... CLEARING THE WAY FOR THE NEW LEADER OF THE NOPD. "Please help we me welcome the new interim chief of the New Orleans Police Department Commander Michael Harrison." "After serving for 23 years, I'm clear that when I put this uniform on everyday, my highest mission is to serve and protect. I stand ready to lead this department through this next chapter." 45 YEAR OLD HARRISON JOINED THE FORCE IN NOVEMBER 1991... AS COMMANDER OF THE SEVENTH DISTRICT THE NOPD SAYS UNDER HARRISON'S WATCH CRIME WENT DOWN IN THE AREA IN 2012 AND 2013... HE HELPED CRAFT LEGISLATION TO BETTER CRACKDOWN ON PROSTITUTION AND SOCILITATION... HARRISON, WHO SAYS HE'S HONORED AND HUMBLED TO LEAD THE NOPD, SAYS MURDER REDUCTION WILL REMAIN A TOP PRIORITY... "The police department is poised to conduct sound constitutional police work with cutting edge technology while remaining relentless and tough towards the reduction of murder and violent crime." HARRISON SAYS THE DEPARTMENT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY IS CRITICAL TO IT'S SUCCESS. "Over the next 30 days I will have my ear to the ground listening to your feed back and looking for opportunities to build stronger relationships across the city." BACK IN 2011... HARRISON WAS SUED FOR AN ALLEGED CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION AGAINST FORMER OFFICER RONALD RUIZ... RUIZ TESTIFIED IN THE HENRY GLOVER TRIAL. THAT SAME YEAR HARRISON WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN INTERNAL NOPD INVESTIGATION FOR IMPROPERLY DISPOSING OLD UNIFORMS... WHEN SEVERAL NOPD UNIFORMS SHIRTS... WITH PATCHES STILL ON... TURNED UP AT A WESTBANK CAR WASH ... HARRISON WAS SUSPENDED FOR A DAY... "New Orleans is the best place in the world and I pledge to lead the NOPD with integrity, accountability, and with the highest standards of service. " HARRISON IS ALSO AN ORDAINED MINISTER... AND A FORMER MEMBER OF THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD ... AND HE WAS CLEARD IN THE CASE OF THE ALLEGED CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION. SCOTT? NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCILE MEMBERS SPOKE TODAY ABOUT THE